http://whiteperil.com/ en-us 2008-07-27T16:07+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1217174975.shtml Japan is taking another step to change its xenophobic image:... Sean 2008-07-27T16:07+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1206088054.shtml While the federal government cannot figure out how to appoint a new Governor General of the Bank of Japan, it's had no trouble filling another important position:... Sean 2008-03-21T08:03+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1206015273.shtml I'm not sure the English Mainichi editorial on the ongoing failure to get a new Governor General of the Bank of Japan approved is the best, but I like the... Sean 2008-03-20T12:03+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1205238100.shtml No surprise here: the DPJ is making good on its threat to oppose the Muto nomination:... Sean 2008-03-11T12:03+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1204869409.shtml Back in Tokyo for a half-week stay to attend to a few things before going back for my last few weeks in Taipei. This time, it's the clear weather that's following... Sean 2008-03-07T05:03+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1198842218.shtml The Nikkei has this wry little look at what the last day of work in 2007 was like in Kasumigaseki:... Sean 2007-12-28T11:12+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1198126906.shtml That this announcement is not getting much attention is very suggestive:... Sean 2007-12-20T05:12+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1193710940.shtml Japan's Central Council for Education (CCE) is about to release an unsual report: one that backtracks on major proposed policy change that would have provided "breathing room" in education. (That's... Sean 2007-10-30T02:10+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1191988452.shtml The Fukuda administration's approval figures remain respectable, according to a Yomiuri poll. The figures seem plausible, as do the reasons offered:... Sean 2007-10-10T03:10+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1190957749.shtml So the composition of Fukuda's cabinet is nearly the same as that of Abe's most recent one. (Two ministers who supported Taro Aso for prime minister were apparently surprised to be... Sean 2007-09-28T05:09+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1190532719.shtml No surprise here: Yasuo Fukuda will be the new LDP president. He's the same age (71) as his father, Takeo Fukuda, was when he became prime minister. Oddly for such... Sean 2007-09-23T07:09+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1190083370.shtml Since we all know that polls are the last word in reliability, Yasuo Fukuda supporters can take comfort in last week's Asahi poll. 53% of voters polled preferred Fukuda as... Sean 2007-09-18T02:09+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1189650108.shtml Wow. Shinzo Abe can't win for losing. Japan's opposition parties have been calling vociferously for his resignation for months. Yesterday he announced his resignation...and they're criticizing him for it.... Sean 2007-09-13T02:09+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1185960353.shtml The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has resigned:... Sean 2007-08-01T09:08+00:00 http://whiteperil.com/posts/1185691159.shtml Polls opened for the House of Councillors (upper house) election this morning. The run-up has been contentious in a rather boring way, with cabinet members suffering from the usual misappropriation... Sean 2007-07-29T06:07+00:00